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By now, most of you should have received mail from the U.S. Census Bureau. The letter contains your household’s Census ID number to be used when filling out the census online at my2020census.gov.

Simply go to the website, click the “start questionnaire” button on the right side of the screen and answer the questions. It should take no more than 10 minutes.

Would you rather respond by phone or mail? No problem — a paper questionnaire will be sent to your home soon if you have yet to respond online.

The census determines congressional representation, helps determine how federal funds flow into states and provides information that will impact your community for the next decade.

IDES has implemented several measures to streamline the filing process. These include improving the website’s infrastructure to increase capacity, extending call center hours and increasing call center staff.

In addition to these measures, IDES is now implementing a new alphabetized schedule, as seen in the above graphic, to help reduce wait times for claims filed both online and over the phone. The day or time of day you call will not affect whether you receive benefits or your benefit amount.

Gov. Pritzker announced new Illinois state programs for emergency assistance for Illinois’s small business community, augmenting aid from existing federal programs. Applications are available now for the Hospitality Emergency Grant Program and the Illinois Small Business Emergency Loan Fund.

Hospitality Emergency Grant Program

The Hospitality Emergency Grant Program can help hospitality businesses-- like hotels, motels, bars, and restaurants-- make ends meet during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program offers $14 million to support working capital, like payroll and rent, as well as job training and technology to enable shifts in operations, like increased pick-up and delivery.

Business owners can find more information on the program business program information page , and can submit an application online application form . A Spanish-language application is available Spanish-language application form .

Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. on April 1. Winners will be chosen via a lottery system, so there is no benefit to submitting an application early as long as a valid, complete application is received by the deadline.

Illinois Small Business Emergency Loan Fund

DCEO and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) will establish the Illinois Small Business Emergency Loan Fund to offer low-interest loans of up to $50,000 to struggling small businesses.

Eligible businesses can submit a full application submit a full business application beginning April 1. DCEO and IDFPR aim to make a loan decision within ten days of the submission date and make funds available within two days of receiving necessary bank information from the loan recipient.

Small businesses located outside the City of Chicago with fewer than 50 workers and less than $3 million in revenue in 2019 may apply.

Small businesses within the City of Chicago can apply to a similar loan program City of Chicago small business loan program application .